Responsive signal system



Sept. 15, 1931. w. N. DICKINSON RESPONSIVE SI GNAL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11, 1927 IYIIIIIIIl/IIIIIIII/ W I R, o. T I mA V N (v I I n 2 Jr, a a I I v. n Y 0 0 (/B a I I I ml 1 I W s r I a Patented ,Sept. 15, 1931 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAI NOBLE DICKINSON, LONG ISLAND, NEW You BISPONSIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM Application fled October 11, 1927. Serial No. 285,489.

Mylinvention relates to responsive signals in w 'ch the operating or actuating member is illuminated by directed, reflected or permitted light thereby advising the operator that the signal is set and operablevand has for its object the productionof an operating In general the invention involves the use of an optical system, and a source of light by the aid of which transparent or translucent ush buttons handles, levers or the like may illumined under certain conditions of service.

The possible applications of the invention are numerous and I will describe a few and the manner of their operation. In doin so I would first call attention tothe fact t at in connection with the majority of signal or control push buttons, switch handles or mechanical movements, no indication. is rovided of the result of their actuation, an uncertainty ensues. I am aware of the fact {that some sna or lever switches are marked for so On, or Ofif positions; that separate signal lights or' small electric bulbs included within push buttons have been used in some cases; and. that the addition of semaphores is customary with railroad switches, but I much more certain, reliable, convenient and economical indicatlon and-that in arrangements of the centralized; control of a; large number of electrical circuits or mechanical movements, greater speed in the manipulaw tion of the actuating members ma be attained with much less physical an mental fatigue.

Let us assume an executives desk withone 1: or more call buttons of the ordinary type 10- cated' thereon. When a button is pressed, there is nothin .to indicate that'the call has been register prompt, doubt ensues and inconvenience or no confusion result. With my responsive conbelieve that my invention provides for a and if the response is not trol, the button would be immediately vitalized or illumined on being pressed, clearly indicating that the circuit was 1n operative condition and that the call had been registered. r

Elevator signals and control from floor landin s or elsewhere have been worked out quite e aborately but ordinarily leave the person operating the signal or control entirely in doubt as to whether or not his operative action has proved effective. Even with the most elaborate and expensive systems of floor signals as installed in the largest ofiice buildings, everyone has had the experience of pressing a floor button, forgetting whether he pressed the up or the down button. Pressing again, waiting some time without an idea as to whether his action has proved e ective and with doubt in his mind as to whether the push button contacts are operative, and of seeing one or more other persons approachthe same landing-and again push one or both buttons, having no knowledge of what action has previously been taken. With the responsive system installed, this entire situat1onwould be remedied with resultant satisfaction to the-users of the elevators and saving of contact wear in the signal system. It 7' could also be accomplishedrin many cases without extensive changes in the push button boxesor in the signals stem.

In connection with e evators controlled by push buttons my responsive system is also applicable to advantage in connection with What are known as house elevators and which are now used in apartment houses, a separate feature could be added which in the event of failure of immediate response would indicate clearly the cause of the failure to respond; that is, whether defective circuit lack of current, door or gate open, or elevator in use.

A large number of circuits could be handled within a small panel s ace, .with clear indication of the setting 0 each signal or control and without requiring the eye to encompass more than one spot for each operationand its resultant si al. I The foregoing and ot er featuresof my invention will now be described 1n connec-. 1

ing part of this specification in which I have diagrammatically illustrated various modifications of my responsivesignals which I may employ in the carrying out of my in .vention, after which I shall point out in the claims those features which I believe to be new and of my own invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical sketch illustrating the relation of the source of light, the optical system and the operating member which I employ.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatical sketch showing a simple electrical system in which the light is reflected on the button.

Figure 3'is a diagrammatical sketch showing a simple system in which the light is permitted to directly illumine the button. 7

Figure 4 is a front view of a typical two push button plate used in elevatorsystems,

one button as Up button and one button as Down button.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical sketch showing a mechanical operation in which the light is directed by a prism on the surface to be illumined.

Figure 6 is a modification employed in a multiple control in which the operating member moves in steps.

Figure 7 is a plan view, and Figure 8 is a sectional elevation showing a modified form of multiple control in which the operating member is designed to rotate.

In the carrying out of my invention I employ an operating member 10 provided with a transparent or translucent face 11, a source of light 20 and ail-optical system comprising means 30 to reflect, direct or permit the light rays to illumine the face 11 of the operating member 10.

In Figures 2- and 3 I illustrate my invention as applied to a simple annunciator, bell or buzzer circuit, in which the source of l1ght 20 is connected in series with the annunc1ator-40,'the latter being operated by battery 41- when the button 10 is pressed. When the button closes the annunciator circuit the source of light is reflected by the mirror 30, (Figure 2) to the button 10 and illumines the surface 11. Even though the finger covers the entire face of the button when pressure is applied the illumining is observable through the point of the finger, indicating that the button has been vitalized. "With this arrangement the button is vitalized only during the time that the pressure on the button persists. By using any of the well known circuits this may be changed so that the buttonbecomes vitalized as soon as pressed, and so remains until the annunciator at the receiving station is .returned to its original position by some one at that station'.v I

In Figure 5 I have shown a mechanical switch which when in one position the light 20 is directed by the prism 31 on the surface to be illumined 11 of the switch or lever 10.

In Figure 6 I show mypush button 10 provided with a reflector 32 and light bafiies 42 having openings 43 and a plurality of light sources indicating a plurality of operating circuits. As thebutton is pressed inward, it will successively reflect light from the different sources, located at the different levels, each source being segregated from the other by means of the light baflies 42.

In Figures 7 and 8 I show my invention as employed to supervise a .large number of electrical circuits indicated by the lights 20 through a single observation point. In this case the lights 20 are arranged in a circle. The circle may be large, as will be readily understood to accommodate as many signal lights as may be convenient or desirable. In the central sleeve 50 the push button 10 is adapted to turn. The battles segregate the lights as previously explained. By simply turning the button the lights will successively illumine the single source of control or operation. If the condition which it was desired to supervise was indicated by the lighting of the signal lamps it will be apparent that the lighting of any one signal lamp on the circumference of the circle would vitalize or illumine the single observation point at the face of the operating member. By arranging the lamps at different levels and decks it will be apparent thatthe number of circuits which may be supervised at a single observation point may be indefinitely 1111- creased.

I have used the term actuating member to mean any push button, lever or other control member capable of assuming more than one position. This may or may not operate an electrical circuit to light the lamp which may be reflected through the actuating member to the face to be illumined. My actuating member may be capable of longitudinal, horizontal or rotary movement.

It will be readily understood that the actual work of the equipment may be performed by magnets, motors, manually operated devices, steam or compressed air. My system is simply to provide a means at the source to notify the operator that what he desires to be accomplished is being attended to and to know that such condition exists.- I do not wish to limitmyself to the form of baflies illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, for I may employ any trap or shutter arrangement which is operated by the operating means to allow the light rays to be projected on the surface to be illumined.

I claim i 1. In a signal orsupervising combination of an actuating mem r with a translucent portion capable of being illustem, the

- translu'centportion ea able-of being illudirecting the rays of light to said translucent Y poition through the-actuating member.

- 2, In a signal or supervising system the combination of an actuating member havingv 5 a, pluralit of operating positions rovide with a dia portion capable of beingi lumined from within, a plurality of. light sources, an optical system for directin the light from' 1- any source to said illumina 1e portion upon. 10 norenient of the actuating member.

. 3. In a signal or supervising system an actuating member withaface ca able-ot being-illumined from within, sai vactuating 5 member capableof assuming a plurality of 15 positions, an o tical system ca able of directmg rays oflig t-.to. the face 0 the actuating member through the member, upon the operation of the actuating member.

4; In a signal" or supervising'system the 6 .combi'nation'of an actuating member with a mined from within, 'said actuating member capable of being rotated to assume -aplurality of positions, an optical system for directing the rays of light to said translucent surface through the actuating member from 7 any reflecting angle. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

- WILLIAM NOBLE-DICKINSON. 

